40 Weeks 1 Whole House: Week 19: Organizing Holiday Decorations

I usually have my tree up into February, but this year I took the BIG tree down this weekend. I also put out our HUGE snowmen collection.

Last year, I was on “Living Dayton” and shared a few ideas. You can watch me knock over a tree on live TV!

Here are some close up pictures of the ornament trays I made out of foam board and paper cups.

I chronicled my day of organizing yesterday on Instagram. I plan on using Instagram a LOT more now that I have an iPhone. Come follow me!

Our tree is 17 years old, so I still have to assemble it limb by limb and put our lights on the tree every year. I remember growing up seeing my dad wind the extension cords and Christmas lights around his arm to keep them from tangling.

{Excuse the first attempt at a “selfie.”}

I use the same Ziploc bags year after year and put one wrapped strand in each bag. It works like a charm, and I rarely get this hot mess…

I got fed up with the lights and moved on to another project.

When my kiddos were babies, I was an overachiever and sewed baby clothes and quilts. I’m over it. So now, I am using the quilt batting I had left to cushion my ornaments as I put them away.

I have been doing this for years, and it works so well. The batting doesn’t wear out like paper towels and tissue paper and it is super protective.

I’m a mess when it comes to so many things but my decorations come down on December 26th with the exception of the wreath on the front door and the nativity which stay up until January 6th so I’ll put them away today. Any outside items are my husband’s area but this year we didn’t get our stuff set out so I guess we’re ahead in taking it down, right? I’m intrigued by your ornament trays…may have to give that a try next year.

..Its been a tradition to always leave my tree up and SOME of the Christmas decor , till Jan 15th…which is the youngest daughters birthday. Now thats shes 21, and moved to her own place, I leave things up till around the 8th. I still enjoy ” non -specific’ winter decor, so that stays out till winter is almost over…then get the spring ‘ pretties’ done.